Stress does not get enough attention when related to health and weight loss. We all have heard that we should reduce stress, but don't make many changes, because stress is just a part of life. We are under a constant level of stress which leads to weight gain and a breakdown of health. Following is a survey by Dr. Hyman which can be an indicator of how much stress you are coping with:

Do you have low blood pressure?

Do you get dizzy when you stand up?

Have you been diagnosed with hypoglycemia?

Do you have cravings for salt or sweets?

Do you have dark circles under your eyes?

Do you have trouble falling asleep and or staying asleep?

do you feel groggy and not refreshed when you wake up?

Do you experience mental fogginess or trouble concentrating?

Do you get headaches?

Do you get frequent infections (for example, colds)?

Do you feel tire easily on doing any exercise or feel very fatigued after exercise?

Do you often feel stressed?

Do you have panic attacks or startle easily?

This list goes on - what it indicates is a stressed adrenal system. When we are under so much stress, we lose the natural rhythm of our bodies. We no longer sleep well, which leads to fatigue, which leads to sugar cravings, which leads to weight gain... and so on and so on. To resolve this, we have to go back to simplifying our daily lives. We need to slow down, support our systems with whole foods, water and supplements, get out in nature, and most of all, relax. Stress affects every part of our lives. Have a relaxing weekend - Shanna

I rarely talk about supplements in isolation, but magnesium is one nutrient that the majority of people are deficient in. This can be caused by a lack of magnesium rich food, but most likely it is due to the stress that is put on our systems. Some foods that are magnesium rich include kelp, almonds, cashews and green leafy vegetables. Some indications that you may be deficient in magnesium according to the web site, www.drhyman.com, include the following:

I am tired often

I have trouble falling asleep or have insomnia.

I am sensitive to loud noises

I have fewer than two bowel movements a day

I have asthma

I experience muscle twitching

I experience leg or hand cramps.

I frequently experience headaches or migraines.

I have PMS most months

I have restless leg syndrome

I frequently feel irritable

I have depression and/or anxiety

I have acid reflux

I have a lot of stress in my life

I have ADD or autism

I experience heart flutters, skipped beats, or palpitations.

There is more to this list, but this just gives an indication of how many functions of our bodies are affected by this one mineral. If you find that you experience numerous symptoms listed above, it might be worth speaking to your health practitioner to see if supplementing with magnesium may be beneficial. Have a great day! Shanna